Bulldozer mounting and controls

ABSTRACT

Bulldozer mounting and controls, including a first rigid push beam assembly mounting the blade at laterally spaced points, and a second push beam assembly connected with the blade at the end of the blade, and a tilt jack working between the blade and the second push beam assembly, eliminating warping of the blade or any mounting parts, and maintaining the same tilted position of the blade in all positions of elevation.

United States Patent 1 1 3,698,490

King 51 Oct. 17, 1972 1 BULLDOZER MOUNTING AND 3,222,804 12/1965 Kuhl..l72/803 CONTROLS 3.487.884 1/1970 Volberding ..172I803 [72] Inventor:James F. King, Cupertino, Calif. Primary Examiner koben E. Pulfrey I gClark Equipment p y Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader 22 Filed: 0 23 19 9Attorney-Paul H. Gallagher App]. No.: 868,786

[52] 11.8. C1. ..l72/803, 172/801, 172/804 [51] Int. Cl. .1502! 3/76[58] Field of Search ..l72/8018l0 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,734,292 2/1956 Graves ..172/804 2,839,848 6/1958 Mackey..l72/803 3,084,461 4/1963 Beckford ..l72/804 [57] ABSTRACT Bulldozermounting and controls, including a first rigid push beam assemblymounting the blade at laterally spaced points, and a second push beamassembly connected with the blade at the end of the blade, and a tiltjack working between the blade and the second push beam assembly,eliminating warping of the blade or any mounting parts, and maintainingthe same tilted position of the blade in all positions of elevation.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED B 1 7 I97? 3, 698, 490

sum 1 or 4 FIG. I

L\ INVENTOR JAMES F'. KING Z ATT RNEY PATENTED 3.698.490

saw 2 or 4 I N VEN TOR JAM ES F. KING ab/W ATTORNEY PATENTEDum I 1 m23.698.490

sum 3 nr 4 FIG. 3

INVENTOR JAMES F. KING ATTORNEY PATENTEDom 11 1912 3.698.490

SHEET u or 4 FIG. 4

, INVENTOR JAMES r F. KING ATTORNEY BULLDOZER MOUNTING AND CONTROLSOBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A broad object of the invention is to provide abulldozer mounting and control arrangement including means for tiltingthe bulldozer blade without warping or distorting the blade or any ofits mounting parts, and maintaining any given tilted position of theblade in all positions of elevation thereof.

Another object is to provide a bulldozer mounting and controlarrangement'of the character just referred to having a novel structurewhich includes a pair of push beam assemblies, one of them being rigidand mounting the blade at laterally spaced points, one of the pointsbeing at one end of the blade, and the other push beam assembly beingconnected with the blade at the other end of the blade, and includingtilting means working between the blade and the second push beamassembly and tilting the blade and the first push beam assemblytogether, whereby to eliminate warping of the blade or mountingtherefor.

Another object is to provide a construction of the character justreferred to wherein means is provided for lifting the blade and the twopush beam assemblies together in a common movement whereby the means fortilting the blade is carried with the blade and the corresponding pushbeam assembly in the vertical movements, and any given tilted positionof the blade is maintained throughout all positions of elevation of theblade.

A further object is to provide a novel bulldozer blade and mounting ofthe character referred to above, of extremely simple construction,utilizing single lifting, tilting and pitching means, and further suchthat provides unusually good tilting power.

A still further object is to provide a construction of the foregoingcharacter wherein both push beam assemblies are mounted on common axes,i.e., on both the blade and the frame of the vehicle on which the bladeis mounted.

An additional object is to provide a bulldozer mounting of the foregoingcharacter in which the tilting means acts in a longitudinal verticalplane inall positions of its actuation, and in all vertical positions ofthe blade.

A still further object is to provide a bulldozer mounting of theforegoing character in conjunction with a tractor or prime mover of thetype having a frame and tired wheels spaced laterally therefrom, and inwhich the mounting for the bulldozer blade is secured to the frameinside the wheels, whereby to enable different sized wheels, andparticularly wider wheels, to be utilized in conjunction with a singletype construction blade mounting.

DESCRlPTlON OF A PREFERRED EM BODIMENT In the drawings:

FlG. l is a side elevational view of the forward portion of a bulldozerembodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bulldozer, with the blade shown in normalhorizontal position in full lines, and in each of extreme oppositetilted positions in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 4 is a side view with the near vehicle wheel omitted, showing theblade in normal horizontal position in full lines, and in tiltedposition in dotdash lines; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

A list of the reference numerals applied to the drawings andidentification of the corresponding elements, appears at the end of thespecification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show the bulldozeras a whole. It includes a tractor unit or vehicle or prime mover 10having a frame 12 and wheels 14, the wheels being rubbertired and setout from the frame, a feature which is of significance in the presentinvention and as will be referred to again hereinbelow. It furtherincludes a blade unit 16 including a blade proper l8 and mounting andcontrol assembly identified generically at 20.

The blade proper 18 may be of any conventional construction and need notbe described in detail. The mounting and control assembly 20 includesmounting means 22 and control means 24. The mounting means includes afirst or left hand push beam assembly 26 and a second or right hand pushbeam assembly 28. The first push beam assembly 26 (FIG. 2) includes apush beam 30, a cross beam 32 and a diagonal beam or strut 34, allrigidly interconnected as by welding. The push beam 30 extends generallyforwardly although at a small angle thereto; its rear end is mounted bymeans of a ball and socket joint 36 on the frame 12 of the tractor unitand its forward end is connected in a spherical bearing unit 38 as bywelding it to a sleeve 40 of that unit, the sleeve being mounted on aninner element 42 and the bearing unit including transversely spacedbrackets 44 secured directly to the blade as by welding. The cross beam32 is disposed preferably parallel with the blade while the diagonalbeam or strut 34 is connected with the push beam 30 closely adjacent therear end of the latter and extends sharply diagonally to the extendedend of the cross beam, these three elements forming a triangular framehaving a substantial transverse component of extension at its forwardend as will be referred to again hereinbelow.

The other push beam assembly 28 includes a push beam 46 extendinggenerally forwardly and at an angle similar to but opposite that of thepushbeam 30, and

having its rear end mounted by means of a ball and socket joint 48 onthe frame 12, on a common transverse axis 49 with the bearing 36. Itsforward end is mounted in a spherical bearing unit 50 as by welding itto a sleeve 52 mounted on an inner element 54, the bearing unit beingmounted on the blade by means of transversely spaced brackets 56 securedas by welding to the blade.

The push beam 46 is provided, adjacent its rear end, (FIGS. 2 and 5)with a lug 58 extending upwardly therefrom and displaced laterally fromthe diagonal center line of the push beam to an effect referred tohereinbelow. The lug 58 is utilized for mounting a tilting jack 60preferably of hydraulic nature, having a cylinder 62 and an extensiblepiston 64. The cylinder is pivotally mounted on the lug 58 by suitablebearing means such as b means of a forked member 66 and the piston 64 ispivotally mounted in a spherical bearing means 68 which includes acollar 70 on the piston receiving an inner bearing element 72.Suitablespacers 74 may be provided for convenience. The bearing unit 68, inconjunction with the piston 64 is mounted in a pair of transverselyspaced plates 76 of generally triangular form (FIGS. 1 and 4) of bellcrank character, having their lower extremities rigidly secured, as bywelding, to the cross beam 32 and having forward extremities included ina spherical bearing unit 78 and directly mounted on an inner element 80which is mounted in a central lug 82 rigidly secured to the blade as bywelding. The bearing unit includes a sleeve 84 in which the inner unit80 is disposed.

The bearing units 38, 50, 78 are mounted on a common transverse axis 88.The ball and socket mountings 36, 48, of course have universal movingrelation, as do the spherical bearing units 38, 50, 78, allowingrelative movement between the home elements and the axis 88, to aneffect to be referred to again hereinbelow.

The tilt jack 60 extends on a center line or axis 90 disposedfore-and-aft and preferably closely adjacent the center of the ball andsocket joint 48 (FIG. 2) whereas to minimize any sidewise forces on thevarious elements as reflected in the ball and socket joint. The jackremains in a vertical plane containing this axis, and therefore force isconstantly exerted in fore-and-aft direction, substantially withoutlateral forces.

The blade is pitched by another jack 92, also preferably of hydraulicnature, having a cylinder 94 pivotally mounted in lugs or mountingbrackets 96 on the vehicle frame and having its piston 98 pivotallymounted on an axis 99 in a bearing unit 100 itself mounted in lugs orbrackets 102 secured directly and rigidly t the blade.

The blade is lifted by means of another jack 104 also preferably ofhydraulic nature having a cylinder [06 pivotally mounted on an axis 107(HO. 2) in lugs or brackets 108 secured to the frame and having a piston110 pivotally mounted in lugs or brackets 112 secured directly to thecross beam 32.

The lift jack 104 is disposed on a longitudinal center line H4 (H0. 2)which is preferably the center line of the tractor and the blade ispreferably symmetrical with the tractor about that line, whereby theblade is lifted evenly by the single lift cylinder with no tendency tococking from that source. Thus a single lift cylinder is utilized asdistinguished from a pair or'plurality of such in other bulldozersheretofore known.

The single pitch jack 92 is transversely closely adjacent the centerline 114 and thus serves to pitch the blade with a minimum of cocking,but as will be appreciated any forces tending to cook the blade inpitching it are relatively minor. The blade in its pitching movements isrocked about the transverse axis 88.

An important feature of the invention is that it can be tilted aboutlongitudinal axes without warping the blade or any of the mountingtherefor. in the present instance, the blade is tilted i.e., both aboveand below its normal position, by extending or contracting the jack 60;upon extending the jack, the plates 76 are rocked with their upper ends.moved forwardly,

clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, and upon contracting it, they are rockedin the opposite direction. This results in lifting the extended end ofthe cross beam 32 (lower end, HO. 2, left end, FIG. 3), and the reactionof that force is directed to the push beam 46, but at a point closelyadjacent the rear end thereof or near the ball and socket joint 48,whereby the total effect is raising of the corresponding end of theblade (left end, FIG. 3). The blade thus rocks about the line of leastresistance, or the axis 114 or an axis closely adjacent thereto and inthe same vertical plane. The lift jack 104 being a single such lift jackor poser means for lifting, and it being centrally located, provides aneasy rocking fulcrum about which the blade rocks in response to thetilting power exerted by the tilt jack 60.

The blade is connected with the rigid push beam assembly 22, and morespecifically adjacent the extreme ends of the long cross beam 32, andthis cross beam being rigid, forces the blade in corresponding tiltingdirections, although with minor variations, avoiding warping. There is acertain modification of the movement as between the extended end of thecross beam relative to the blade, due to the movement of the plates 76as between the bearing units 68, 78, but this variation is minor and thespherical shape of the two bearing units 38, 78 accommodates this slightvariation as between the push beam assembly and the blade. Similarlythere is also a slight variation as between the push beam 46 and theblade but the spherical shape of the bearing unit 50 accommodates thisvariation.

The arrangement enables the utilization of a single lift jack (104) andupon actuation thereof the blade is raised or lowered in true position,i.e., in whatever position of tilt it had assumed, this position willpersist throughout the vertical movements thereof, since the tilt jack60 is carried by the blade and the push beam 46, and since the blade andpush beam assemblies all move together about the transverse axis 49 inthe raising and lowering movements, the tilt position of the bladeremains the same.

The push beams 30, 46, being mounted directly on the frame 12 are insidethe wheels 14. This is an important advantage in that the wheels may beof any width (thickness) independently of the mounting of the bulldozerblade. There is a present tendency to the use of wider wheels, in thecase of rubber tired wheels, and this development may be accommodated bythe same construction described above. The push beams 30, 46 whiledirected generally forwardly, do diverge to a degree, whereby toaccommodate their mounting directly on the frame while still enablingwidely spaced points of connection to the blade. Additionally in thebearing units 38, 50, 78 the mounting lugs or brackets 44, 56, 74, maybe spaced relatively widely whereby to provide points of securement ofeach bearing means to the blade at transversely widely spaced points.

Reference Numerals James F. King Bulldozer Mounting and Controls 26first or left hand push beam assembly inner element of 78 82 central lugof 7B 84 sleeve of 78 88 transverse axis of the bearing units 38, 50, 78

28 second or right hand push beam assembly 30 first push beam 31 crossbeam 34 diagonal beam 54 inner element of 50 mounting cylinder 106 56brackets [08 lugs or brackets 58 lug on 46 I piston of 104 60 tiltingjack 112 brackets 62 cylinder of 60 114 center line of I04 I claim:

1. in a bulldozer having a vehicle frame and wheels including frontwheels spaced laterally outwardly from the frame, the constructioncomprising a blade, a first and a second push beam assembly includingpush beams diverging forwardly, first and second ball and socket bearingmeans mounting the rear ends of the push beams on the frame, the firstpush beam assembly including a cross beam secured to the first push beamadjacent the front end thereof and extending transversely toward and toa position adjacent to the second push beam, and a diagonal strutconnected between the extended end of the cross beam and the rear end ofthe first push beam, the first push beam assembly thereby forming arigid beam member, third bearing means mounting the front end of thefirst push beam on the blade, bell crank means rigidly secured on theextended end of the cross beam and having a forward leg and an upperleg, fourth bearing means pivotally mounting the forward leg of the bellcrank means on the blade, fifth bearing means pivotally mounting thefront end of the second push beam on the blade, the third, fourth andfifth bearing means being of spherical character, lying on a commontransverse axis, and each including three points spaced apart laterallyof the blade between the blade and the respective members mountedthereon, a tilting jack having its rear end pivotally mounted on thesecond push beam adjacent the rear end of the latter and its front endpivotally mounted on the upper leg of the bell crank member, the tiltingjack being operative in direct fore-and-aft direction and on a lineextending at least adjacent the second bearing means, a lift jack havingits rear end pivotally mounted on the frame and its forward endpivotally mounted on the cross beam of the first push beam assemblyadjacent the center of the cross beam and at the transverse center ofthe blade, and a pitch jack having its rear end pivotally mounted on thevehicle frame and its forward end pivotally mounted on the blade at aposition offset upwardly from the third, fourth and fifth bearings, theblade in its pitching movements rocking about said axis of the third,fourth and fifth bearing means.

2. In a bulldozer having a vehicle frame and transversely spaced groundengaging supporting means,

the construction comprising,

a rigid blade unit including a blade,

push beam means including a first and a second push beam assembly,

a first and a second bearing means pivotally mounting rear ends of thepush beam assemblies on the frame at opposite sides of the latter,

the first push beam assembly including a first push beam and atransversely extending cross beam adjacent the front end of that pushbeam, said cross beam having a free end,

a third bearing means pivotally mounting the front end of the first pushbeam on the rigid blade unit adjacent one end of the latter,

the second push beam assembly including a second push beam,

a fifth bearing means pivotally mounting the front end of the secondpush beam on the rigid blade unit adjacent the end of the latteropposite the first push beam,

a fourth bearing means mounted on the rigid blade unit adjacent the freeend of the cross beam and adjacent the fifth bearing means, and

tilting means including a tilting member interconnected between the freeend of the cross beam and the fourth bearing means, and alsoincludingajack interconnected between the tilting member and the pushbeam means and operative for applying power in the longitudinaldirection and thereby operative for tilting the blade unit about acentral longitudinal axis,

all of said bearing means including at least a degree of universalmovement.

3. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2 and including means forlifting the blade unit, and for pitching the blade unit about transversehorizontal axes.

4. A bulldozer construction according to claim 3 wherein the liftingmeans includes a jack mounted at one end on the vehicle frame and at itsother end on the cross beam adjacent the center of the latter.

5. A bulldozer construction according to claim 4 wherein the liftingmeans operates at a single point at the transverse center of the blade,and the tilting of the blade takes place substantially about alongitudinal axis in vertical alignment with that point.

6. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2 wherein both push beamsare secured to the blade unit against relative vertical movement, thetilting member enables limited vertical movement of the cross beamrelative to the blade, and the tilting jack acts between the second pushbeam and the tilting member and the tilting jack, upon actuationthereof, produces such vertical movement of the cross beam relative tothe blade and thereby produces tilting of the blade.

7. A bulldozer construction according to claim 6 wherein the tiltingmember includes a bell crank means secured to the cross beam and havinga first leg pivotally mounted on the blade unit and a second leg, andthe tilting jack is interconnected between the second push beam and thesecond leg of the bell crank means.

8. A bulldozer construction according to claim 7 wherein the bell crankmeans is rigidly secured to the cross beam, and the thrust of thetilting jack produces pivoting action at the second leg between thetilting jack and the bell crank member and at another point between thefirst leg and the rigid blade unit, thereby producing vertical movementof the extended end of the cross beam relative to the blade andcorresponding tilting of the blade.

9. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2 wherein the line ofaction of the tilting jack is at least closely adjacent the effectivecenter of the second bearing means mounting the rear end of the secondpush beam assembly on the frame.

10. A bulldozer construction according to claim 9 wherein the tiltingjack is pivotally mounted on and carried by the second push beam, and inany given fixed position of the tilting jack, both push beam assembliesbecome a rigid assemblage swingable vertically under the action of thelifting jack about an axis extending transversely through the first andsecond bearing means.

1]. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2 wherein the third,fourth and fifth bearing means are arranged on a common horizontal axis.

12. A bulldozer construction according to claim 11 wherein each of thethird, fourth and fifth bearing means are of spherical construction, andeach of them includes three points of connection between the blade andthe push beam assemblies, those three points being spaced along saidcommon axis, whereby to enable universal movement, including transversecocking movement about fore-and-aft axes, between the blades and thepush beam assemblies.

13. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2 wherein the groundengaging members of the vehicle are wheels, including front wheelsspaced laterally from the frame, the rear ends of the push beams arepositioned inside the wheels and vertically adjacent the lower portionof the frame.

14. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2 in which the pushbeams diverge forwardly and constitute the members directly connectedwith the vehicle frame and the blade, and are connected to the blade atwide spaced points.

i l t i

1. In a bulldozer having a vehicle frame and wheels including frontwheels spaced laterally outwardly from the frame, the constructioncomprising a blade, a first and a second push beam assembly includingpush beams diverging forwardly, first and second ball and socket bearingmeans mounting the rear ends of the push beams on the frame, the firstpush beam assembly including a cross beam secured to the first push beamadjacent the front end thereof and extending transversely toward and toa position adjacent to the second push beam, and a diagonal strutconnected between the extended end of the cross beam and the rear end ofthe first push beam, the first push beam assembly thereby forming arigid beam member, third bearing means mounting the front end of thefirst push beam on the blade, bell crank means rigidly secured on theextended end of the cross beam and having a forward leg and an upperleg, fourth bearing means pivotally mounting the forward leg of the bellcrank means on the blade, fifth bearing means pivotally mounting thefront end of the second push beam on the blade, the third, fourth andfiftH bearing means being of spherical character, lying on a commontransverse axis, and each including three points spaced apart laterallyof the blade between the blade and the respective members mountedthereon, a tilting jack having its rear end pivotally mounted on thesecond push beam adjacent the rear end of the latter and its front endpivotally mounted on the upper leg of the bell crank member, the tiltingjack being operative in direct fore-and-aft direction and on a lineextending at least adjacent the second bearing means, a lift jack havingits rear end pivotally mounted on the frame and its forward endpivotally mounted on the cross beam of the first push beam assemblyadjacent the center of the cross beam and at the transverse center ofthe blade, and a pitch jack having its rear end pivotally mounted on thevehicle frame and its forward end pivotally mounted on the blade at aposition offset upwardly from the third, fourth and fifth bearings, theblade in its pitching movements rocking about said axis of the third,fourth and fifth bearing means.
 2. In a bulldozer having a vehicle frameand transversely spaced ground engaging supporting means, theconstruction comprising, a rigid blade unit including a blade, push beammeans including a first and a second push beam assembly, a first and asecond bearing means pivotally mounting rear ends of the push beamassemblies on the frame at opposite sides of the latter, the first pushbeam assembly including a first push beam and a transversely extendingcross beam adjacent the front end of that push beam, said cross beamhaving a free end, a third bearing means pivotally mounting the frontend of the first push beam on the rigid blade unit adjacent one end ofthe latter, the second push beam assembly including a second push beam,a fifth bearing means pivotally mounting the front end of the secondpush beam on the rigid blade unit adjacent the end of the latteropposite the first push beam, a fourth bearing means mounted on therigid blade unit adjacent the free end of the cross beam and adjacentthe fifth bearing means, and tilting means including a tilting memberinterconnected between the free end of the cross beam and the fourthbearing means, and also including a jack interconnected between thetilting member and the push beam means and operative for applying powerin the longitudinal direction and thereby operative for tilting theblade unit about a central longitudinal axis, all of said bearing meansincluding at least a degree of universal movement.
 3. A bulldozerconstruction according to claim 2 and including means for lifting theblade unit, and for pitching the blade unit about transverse horizontalaxes.
 4. A bulldozer construction according to claim 3 wherein thelifting means includes a jack mounted at one end on the vehicle frameand at its other end on the cross beam adjacent the center of thelatter.
 5. A bulldozer construction according to claim 4 wherein thelifting means operates at a single point at the transverse center of theblade, and the tilting of the blade takes place substantially about alongitudinal axis in vertical alignment with that point.
 6. A bulldozerconstruction according to claim 2 wherein both push beams are secured tothe blade unit against relative vertical movement, the tilting memberenables limited vertical movement of the cross beam relative to theblade, and the tilting jack acts between the second push beam and thetilting member and the tilting jack, upon actuation thereof, producessuch vertical movement of the cross beam relative to the blade andthereby produces tilting of the blade.
 7. A bulldozer constructionaccording to claim 6 wherein the tilting member includes a bell crankmeans secured to the cross beam and having a first leg pivotally mountedon the blade unit and a second leg, and the tilting jack isinterconnected between the second push beam and the second leg of thebell crank Means.
 8. A bulldozer construction according to claim 7wherein the bell crank means is rigidly secured to the cross beam, andthe thrust of the tilting jack produces pivoting action at the secondleg between the tilting jack and the bell crank member and at anotherpoint between the first leg and the rigid blade unit, thereby producingvertical movement of the extended end of the cross beam relative to theblade and corresponding tilting of the blade.
 9. A bulldozerconstruction according to claim 2 wherein the line of action of thetilting jack is at least closely adjacent the effective center of thesecond bearing means mounting the rear end of the second push beamassembly on the frame.
 10. A bulldozer construction according to claim 9wherein the tilting jack is pivotally mounted on and carried by thesecond push beam, and in any given fixed position of the tilting jack,both push beam assemblies become a rigid assemblage swingable verticallyunder the action of the lifting jack about an axis extendingtransversely through the first and second bearing means.
 11. A bulldozerconstruction according to claim 2 wherein the third, fourth and fifthbearing means are arranged on a common horizontal axis.
 12. A bulldozerconstruction according to claim 11 wherein each of the third, fourth andfifth bearing means are of spherical construction, and each of themincludes three points of connection between the blade and the push beamassemblies, those three points being spaced along said common axis,whereby to enable universal movement, including transverse cockingmovement about fore-and-aft axes, between the blades and the push beamassemblies.
 13. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2 whereinthe ground engaging members of the vehicle are wheels, including frontwheels spaced laterally from the frame, the rear ends of the push beamsare positioned inside the wheels and vertically adjacent the lowerportion of the frame.
 14. A bulldozer construction according to claim 2in which the push beams diverge forwardly and constitute the membersdirectly connected with the vehicle frame and the blade, and areconnected to the blade at wide spaced points.